text:
MEDICAL MONDAYS: News Notes
Chris Glattes, MD, orthopaedic spinal surgeon
Keith Nichols, MD, physiatrist
TOPIC: Back Pain: Surgical & Non-Surgical Treatments
Monday, October 20 2008
Understanding Back Pain - the Basics
What Is Back Pain?
We've all experienced back problems from time to time -- a pain in the lower back or strain of the neck. In fact, problems from back pain are the most common physical complaints among American adults and are a leading cause of lost job time -- to say nothing of the time and money spent in search of relief. Back pain includes sore muscles and tendons, herniated discs, fractures, and other problems. Most often, the causes of back pain have developed over a long period of time.
The spinal column is an extraordinary mechanism. It keeps us stable enough to stand upright but flexible enough for movement. The backbone, or spine, is actually a stack of 24 individual bones called vertebrae.
A healthy spine is S-shaped when viewed from the side. It curves back at the shoulders and inward at the neck and small of the back. It's the body's main structural support. It also houses and protects the spinal cord, the intricate network of nerves that runs through the vertebrae to transmit feeling and control movement throughout the entire body.
What Causes It?
Back pain ranks high on the list of self-inflicted ailments. Most of our back troubles happen because of bad habits, generally developed over a long period of time. These include:
Sometimes, the effects are immediate, but in many cases back problems develop over time. One of the more common types of back pain comes from straining the bands of muscles surrounding the spine. Although such strains can occur anywhere along the spine, they happen most often in the curve of the lower back. The next most common place is at the base of the neck.
Sometimes backache occurs for no apparent reason. This is called nonspecific backache. It may develop from weakened muscles that cannot handle everyday walking, bending, and stretching. In other cases, the discomfort seems to come from general tension, lack of proper sleep, and/or stress.
A condition called fibrositis causes chronic backache from localized muscle tension. Sometimes this original muscle tension comes from stress or other emotional problems.
Whether the muscle strain is from lifting heavy objects or from something as innocuous as a sneeze makes little difference -- the pain can be agonizing.
Pregnancy commonly brings on back pain. Hormonal changes and weight gain put new kinds of stresses on a pregnant woman's spine and legs.
Injuries from contact sports, accidents, and falls can cause problems ranging from minor muscle strains to severe damage to the spinal column or the spinal cord itself.
Understanding Back Pain - Treatment
How Do I Know What Kind of Back Problem I Have?
Before a doctor can begin treating back pain, he or she may do tests to determine what is causing the patient's back pain. Unless you are totally immobilized from a back injury, your doctor probably will test your range of motion and nerve function and touch your body to locate the area of discomfort.
Blood and urine tests will make sure the pain is not due to an infection or other systemic problem.
X-rays are useful in pinpointing broken bones or other skeletal defects. They can sometimes help locate problems in connective tissue. To analyze soft-tissue damage, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans may be needed. X-rays and imaging studies are generally used only for checking out direct trauma to the back, back pain with fever, or nerve problems such as extremity weakness or numbness. To determine possible nerve or muscle damage, an electromyogram (EMG) can be useful.
What Are the Treatments?
Because back pain stems from a variety of causes, treatment goals are pain relief and restored movement. The basic treatment for relieving back pain from strain or minor injury is rest. An ice pack can be helpful, as can aspirin or another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to reduce pain and inflammation. After the inflammation subsides, applying heat can soothe muscles and connective tissue.
Long-term bed rest is not only no longer considered necessary for most cases of back pain, it is actually potentially harmful, making recovery slower and potentially causing new problems. In most cases, you will be expected to start normal, nonstrenuous activity (such as walking) within 24 to 72 hours. After that you should begin controlled exercise or physical therapy. Physical therapy treatments may employ massage, ultrasound, whirlpool baths, controlled application of heat, and individually tailored exercise programs to help you regain full use of the back. Strengthening both the abdominal and back muscles helps stabilize the spine. You can prevent further back injury by learning -- and doing -- gentle stretching exercises and proper lifting techniques, and maintaining good posture.
If back pain keeps you from normal daily activities, your doctor can help by recommending or prescribing pain medications. Over-the-counter painkillers such as Tylenol, aspirin, or ibuprofen can be helpful. Your doctor may prescribe prescription strength anti-inflammatories/pain medicines or may prefer to prescribe combination opioid/acetaminophen medications such as Vicodin or Percocet. Some doctors also prescribe muscle relaxants. But beware, these medications have their main effect on the brain, not the muscles, and often cause drowsiness.
If your primary doctor isn't able to help you control the pain, he/she may refer you to a back specialist or a pain specialist. Sometimes these doctors will use injections of steroids or anesthetics to help control the pain. Some newer treatments have been developed recently to help with the treatment of pain. One of these is radiofrequency ablation, a process of delivering electrical stimulation to specific nerves to make them less sensitive to pain, or by delivering enough electricity to actually destroy the nerve to prevent further pain. A similar type of procedure that delivers heat to a herniated disc can shrink the disc so that it no longer bulging onto the nerve root causing pain. Other medicines such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants are sometimes prescribed to help with pain related to irritated nerves.
Knowing the cause of the pain and fixing the problem if possible should be primary in the course of your treatment, however.
Some physicians advocate using a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS), although whether TENS is clearly helpful for back pain has not been resolved. Electrodes taped to the body carry a mild electric current that helps relieve pain. After appropriate training, patients can use TENS on their own to help reduce pain while they recover from strained or moderately injured backs.
Surgery for nonspecific back pain is a last resort. In cases of persistent pain from extreme nerve damage, rhizotomy -- surgically severing a nerve -- may be necessary to stop transmission of pain to the brain. Rhizotomy can correct the symptoms caused by friction between the surfaces in a spinal joint, but it doesn't address other problems, such as herniated discs.
Chiropractors have a role in the treatment of back pain. The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recognizes spinal manipulation by chiropractors and osteopaths as effective for acute low-back pain. Its effectiveness for treating chronic back pain is less well established. Some researchers suggest that early chiropractic adjustments for acute back pain may prevent chronic problems from developing. Other doctors warn against some chiropractic manipulations, particularly those that involve rapid twisting of the neck.
Osteopathic treatment is likely to combine drug therapy with spinal manipulation or traction, followed by physical therapy and exercise.
Acupuncture may bring moderate to complete pain relief for many sufferers. It can be used alone or as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes medications and other bodywork. Clinical achievements, along with positive research results, prompted the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to declare acupuncture a reasonable treatment option for those suffering low back pain.
If you consult a psychotherapist for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), your treatment may include stress management, behavioral adaptation, education, and relaxation techniques. CBT can lessen the intensity of back pain, change perceptions about levels of pain and disability, and even lift depression. The NIH considers CBT useful for relieving low back pain, citing studies that show CBT to be superior to routine care and placebo.
Other comprehensive behavioral programs have shown similar success, with participants able to lessen the amount of medication they needed while improving their outlook and pain-related behavior.
If lower back pain is related to muscle tension or spasm, biofeedback can be effective for lessening pain intensity, decreasing drug use, and improving quality of life. Biofeedback may help you train your muscles to respond better to stress or movement.
The Alexander Technique, Pilates, and the Feldendkrais Method are all specialized forms of body work that help you learn to move in a more coordinated, flexible, and graceful manner. They may help reduce pain and can relieve stress. Some of the postures of yoga may help diminish low back pain, improve flexibility, strength, and sense of balance. Yoga is good for stress reduction and can help with the psychological aspects of pain.
Aquatic therapy and exercise can also improve flexibility and decrease pain for those with chronic low back problems. The unique properties of water make it an especially safe environment for exercising a sore back; it provides gentle resistance, comfort, and relaxation.
Back Pain Surgery
Operative treatments
Depending on the diagnosis, surgery may either be the first treatment of choice - although this is rare - or it is reserved for chronic back pain for which other treatments have failed. If you are in constant pain or if pain reoccurs frequently and interferes with your ability to sleep, to function at your job, or to perform daily activities, you may be a candidate for surgery.
In general, there are two groups of people who may require surgery to treat their spinal problems. People in the first group have chronic low back pain and sciatica, and they are often diagnosed with a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, or vertebral fractures with nerve involvement. People in the second group are those with only predominant low back pain (without leg pain). These are people with discogenic low back pain (degenerative disc disease), in which discs wear with age. Usually, the outcome of spine surgery is much more predictable in people with sciatica than in those with predominant low back pain.
Some of the diagnoses that may need surgery include:
Herniated discs: a potentially painful problem in which the hard outer coating of the discs, which are the circular pieces of connective tissue that cushion the bones of the spine, are damaged, allowing the discs' jelly-like center to leak, irritating nearby nerves. This causes severe sciatica and nerve pain down the leg. A herniated disc is sometimes called a ruptured disc.
Spinal stenosis: the narrowing of the spinal canal, through which the spinal cord and spinal nerves run.
It is often caused by the overgrowth of bone caused by osteoarthritis of the spine. Compression of the nerves caused by spinal stenosis can lead not only to pain, but also to numbness in the legs and the loss of bladder and/or bowel control. Patients may have difficulty walking any distances and may also have severe pain in their legs along with numbness and tingling.
Spondylolisthesis: a condition in which a vertebra of the lumbar spine slips out of place. As the spine tries to stabilize itself, the joints between the slipped vertebra and adjacent vertebrae can become enlarged, pinching nerves as they exit the spinal column. Spondylolisthesis may cause not only low back pain but severe sciatica leg pain.
Vertebral fractures: fractures caused by trauma to the vertebrae of the spine or by crumbling of the vertebrae resulting from osteoporosis. This causes mostly mechanical back pain, but it may also put pressure on the nerves, creating leg pain.
Discogenic Low Back Pain (Degenerative Disc Disease): Most people's discs degenerate over a lifetime, but in some, this aging process can become chronically painful, severely interfering with their quality of life.
Following are some of the most commonly performed back surgeries:
For herniated discs:
Laminectomy/discectomy: In this operation, part of the lamina, a portion of the bone on the back of the vertebrae, is removed, as well as a portion of a ligament. The herniated disc is then removed through the incision, which may extend two or more inches.
Microdiscectomy: As with traditional discectomy, this procedure involves removing a herniated disc or damaged portion of a disc through an incision in the back. The difference is that the incision is much smaller and the doctor uses a magnifying microscope or lenses to locate the disc through the incision. The smaller incision may reduce pain and the disruption of tissues, and it reduces the size of the surgical scar. It appears to take about the same time to recuperate from a microdiscectomy as from a traditional discectomy.
Laser surgery: Technological advances in recent decades have led to the use of lasers for operating on patients with herniated discs accompanied by lower back and leg pain. During this procedure, the surgeon inserts a needle in the disc that delivers a few bursts of laser energy to vaporize the tissue in the disc. This reduces its size and relieves pressure on the nerves. Although many patients return to daily activities within 3 to 5 days after laser surgery, pain relief may not be apparent until several weeks or even months after the surgery. The usefulness of laser discectomy is still being debated.
For spinal stenosis:
Laminectomy: When narrowing of the spine compresses the nerve roots, causing pain and/or affecting sensation, doctors sometimes open up the spinal column with a procedure called a laminectomy. In a laminectomy, the doctor makes a large incision down the affected area of the spine and removes the lamina and any bone spurs, which are overgrowths of bone, that may have formed in the spinal canal as the result of osteoarthritis. The procedure is major surgery that requires a short hospital stay and physical therapy afterwards to help regain strength and mobility.
For spondylolisthesis:
Spinal fusion: When a slipped vertebra leads to the enlargement of adjacent facet joints, surgical treatment generally involves both laminectomy (as described above) and spinal fusion. In spinal fusion, two or more vertebrae are joined together using bone grafts, screws, and rods to stop slippage of the affected vertebrae. Bone used for grafting comes from another area of the body, usually the hip or pelvis. In some cases, donor bone is used.
Although the surgery is generally successful, either type of graft has its drawbacks. Using your own bone means surgery at a second site on your body. With donor bone, there is a slight risk of disease transmission or rejection. In recent years, a new development has eliminated those risks for some people undergoing spinal fusion: proteins called bone morphogenic proteins are being used to stimulate bone generation, eliminating the need for grafts. The proteins are placed in the affected area of the spine, often in collagen putty or sponges.Regardless of how spinal fusion is performed, the fused area of the spine becomes immobilized.
For vertebral osteoporotic fractures3:
Vertebroplasty: When back pain is caused by a compression fracture of a vertebra due to osteoporosis or trauma, doctors may make a small incision in the skin over the affected area and inject a cement-like mixture called polymethyacrylate into the fractured vertebra to relieve pain and stabilize the spine. The procedure is generally performed on an outpatient basis under a mild anesthetic.
3 Used only if standard care, rest, corsets/braces, analgesics fail.
Kyphoplasty: Much like vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty is used to relieve pain and stabilize the spine following fractures due to osteoporosis. Kyphoplasty is a two-step process. In the first step, the doctor inserts a balloon device to help restore the height and shape of the spine. In the second step, he or she injects polymethyacrylate to repair the fractured vertebra. The procedure is done under anesthesia, and in some cases it is performed on an outpatient basis.
For Discogenic Low Back Pain (Degenerative Disc Disease)
Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDT): One of the newest and least invasive therapies for low back pain involves inserting a heating wire through a small incision in the back and into a disc. An electrical current is then passed through the wire to strengthen the collagen fibers that hold the disc together. The procedure is done on an outpatient basis, often under local anesthesia. The usefulness of IDT is debatable.
Spinal fusion: When the degenerated disc is painful, the surgeon may recommend removing it and fusing the disc to help with the pain. This fusion can be done through the abdomen, a procedure known as anterior lumbar interbody fusion, or through the back, called posterior fusion. Theoretically, fusion surgery should eliminate the source of pain; the procedure is successful in about 60 to 70 percent of cases. Fusion for low back pain or any spinal surgeries should only be done as a last resort, and the patient should be fully informed of risks.
Disc replacement: When a disc is herniated, one alternative to a discectomy - in which the disc is simply removed - is removing it and replacing it with a synthetic disc. Replacing the damaged one with an artificial one restores disc height and movement between the vertebrae. Artificial discs come in several designs.
Non-Surgical Back Pain Treatments: Anesthetic or corticosteroid injections for low back pain
Trigger point injections Sometimes, putting pressure on a certain spot in the back (called a trigger point) can cause pain at that spot or extending to another area of the body, such as the hip or leg. To relieve pain, a local anesthetic, either alone or combined with a corticosteroid, may be injected into the area of the back that triggers pain (trigger point injection).
Facet joint injections A local anesthetic or corticosteroid is injected into a facet joint, which is one of the points where one vertebra connects to another.
Epidural injections A corticosteroid is injected into the spinal canal where it bathes the sheath that surrounds the spinal cord and nerve roots.
These injections can be done by an orthopedist, an anesthesiologist, a neurologist, a physiatrist, a pain management specialist, or a rheumatologist.
How It Works
Local anesthesia is believed to break the cycle of pain that can cause you to become less physically active. Muscles that are not being exercised are more easily injured, so the irritated and injured muscles can cause more pain and spasm and can disrupt sleep. This pain, spasm, and fatigue, in turn, can lead to less and less activity.
Steroids reduce inflammation, so a corticosteroid injected into the spinal canal can help relieve pressure on nerves and nerve roots.
Why It Is Used
Injections may be appropriate if you have symptoms of nerve root compression or facet inflammation and you do not respond to nonsurgical therapy after 6 weeks.
How Well It Works
Research has not demonstrated that local injections are effective in controlling chronic low back pain.1
Facet joint injections
When used to treat chronic low back pain, facet joint injection of a corticosteroid is no more effective than a placebo injection and may even be harmful.1
Epidural steroid injections
Evidence supporting epidural steroid injection is mixed. Research does not demonstrate a clear benefit.2, 1 But some people seem to get short-term relief, especially from pain that spreads down the leg.3
Side Effects
Possible side effects include nerve or other tissue damage, infection, or excessive bleeding.
Facet joint injections
Possible side effects include pain at the injection site, infection, excessive bleeding, nerve damage, or spinal cord inflammation.
Epidural steroid injections
Rare possible side effects include headache, fever, spinal cord inflammation, or infection.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
These injections can be painful.
Most orthopedists and rheumatologists advise against repeated injections of corticosteroids directly into joints, including joints of the spine, because degeneration or damage to joint cartilage may occur.


text:
125: Marketing Interview
|Marketing Interview
Title text: There are a lot of books on marketing out there. I wonder if you're safest just buying the most popular one.
[edit] Explanation
Black Hat is trying to get a job running a marketing program. Cueball conducts the interview and says that although he has heard that Black Hat is the best in the business, his portfolio does not show that he has run any major marketing campaigns. Black Hat asks where he heard that rumor and Cueball begins to respond. Then he realizes that Black Hat has used his perfect marketing campaign tactics to get into the business. So Black Hat gets the job.
The title text suggests that this would be a rare case in which buying the most popular book would be the best because the people who wrote it obviously know a great deal about marketing.
[edit] Transcript
- [Two people, Cueball sitting behind a executive desk, looking at some paper, and Black Hat by foot.]
- Cueball: I've heard you're one of the best in marketing business, but I've got your portfolio here and looks like you've never run a major campaign. Why should I hire you to head our new initiative?
- Black Hat:: If you don't mind asking, what gave you the idea I was one of the best in the business?
- Cueball: Hm? I don't remember. Just word of mouth or someth-- ...oh, you're good.
- Black Hat: Thank you. When can I start?
I believe I disagree with the explanation of the title text on this one. To me it suggests that this would be a rare case in which buying the most popular book would be the best because the people who wrote it obviously know a great deal about marketing. 220.127.116.11 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)
I don't understand what you mean by "rare case"22.214.171.124 05:14, 30 December 2013 (UTC)
- Agreed. The title text appears to connote that although a case of Black Hat or his ilk is rare, the tendency of good marketers' books to sell better ought most often to be the rule rather than the exception. --Jolbucley (talk) 04:16, 29 January 2014 (UTC)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- Home
- News
- Sports
- Opinion
- Obituaries
- Features
- Special Sections
- Classifieds
- Public Notices
Forgot Password? | Not a User? Sign up
You are only as old as you feel and Youth Theatre of Hardin County hasn't lost the spring in its step as it celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
Hardin County has been the fortunate recipient of 40 seasons of quality live entertainment. From its first production of "The Mouse that Roared" in 1972 to its most recent production, last weekend's "White Christmas," students have grown up on the stage one performance at a time.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the The News Enterprise, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
If you are new to the award winning The News Enterprise and wish to get a subscription or simply gain access to our online content then please enter your ZIP code below and continue to setup your account.
|ZIP Code:


text:
Rubbing areas that hurt is a natural human response. Even other mammals do this. Massage is based on the same principle of rubbing and manipulating muscles.
Massage is found to be helpful both physically and emotionally. The rubbing not only soothes sore muscles but the mind as well.
Massage therapy has been found to assist in the treatment of:
Massaging muscles and soft tissue stimulates nerves, increases blood flow and relieves stress in the muscles. Over the centuries, many massage techniques have developed including:
Massages are usually given in a quiet room, with soothing background music. A person usually lies down on a special massage table or in a special massage chair called seated massage. Massage uses a group of manual techniques, consisting of both fixed and moveable pressure.
In 43 states and the District of Columbia massage therapy is regulated by law with specific guidelines. The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) has set up standards of practice and also administers a national certification examination. It is used in 38 of those states and the District of Columbia as a requirement to practice.
In order to become nationally certified to practice massage therapy, a preactitioner must:
Click here to view the
Online Resources of Complementary & Alternative Medicine
Last reviewed: 2/2/2013
Topic Index
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Overview
Safety and Risks of CAM
Chinese Medicine
Chiropractic Medicine
Body Movement
Dietary Supplements
Herbal Medicine
Electromagnetic Therapy
Art, Dance, and Music
Online Resources


text:
The person who finds the baby in their piece of cake is the lucky one and they get to make the following years King Cake.
No cakes for a while. Too many calories this past weekend!!
Unless noted to the contrary, all trademarks and other intellectual property on this site are owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Vevey, Switzerland or used with permission.
As a Very Best Baker, you can print coupons, chat in the Forums, plus rate, review and save recipes!
Remember me on this computer
Become a Very Best Baker to print coupons, share recipes and chat in the Forums.


text:
Training and Event Calendar
This event calendar is provided as a service to our members and the public. An event may be cancelled at any time. Please confirm the event with the sponsor prior to making travel plans. To submit an event, please contact us.
April 2014
Conference on Crimes Against Women 8:00 am
Conference on Crimes Against Women
Mar 31 @ 8:00 am – Apr 2 @ 1:00 pm
The Mission of Conference on Crimes Against Women: To provide a national forum to disseminate the highest level of training, information and strategies to professionals [...]
Darkness to Light – Stewards of Children 9:00 am
Darkness to Light – Stewards of … @ Childrens Hospital
Apr 4 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Darkness to Light is the leading evidence based child sexual abuse prevention program in the country. The training programs aims to empower adults to prevent, [...]
19th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect 8:15 am
19th National Conference on Chil… @ Hyatt Regency
Apr 30 @ 8:15 am – May 2 @ 2:00 pm
The Children's Bureau's Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (OCAN) is pleased to announce the 19th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, which will [...]


text:
BECKLEY — Dancers from Beckley Dance Theatre and Beckley Performing Arts present "The Nutcracker" Friday evening at the Woodrow Wilson High School auditorium. Director Jerry Rose said the holiday favorite is marking its 35th season this year. The classic ballet will be presented again today at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Latest News
The Nutcracker
- Latest News
Mercer County firefighters batting three different brush fires
Firefighters are currently on the scene of at least three brush fires now burning in rural areas of Mercer County.
Woman who attempted to rob bank at gunpoint captured in Tennessee
A woman who attempted to rob a Bluefield bank at gunpoint has been captured in Tennessee , police said Thursday.
Former federal prison worker pleads guilty to sex offense
A former federal prison employee pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Beckley to engaging in abusive sexual contact with a female inmate.
New River Gorge fire now 90 percent contained
A National Park Service spokesperson said this morning that the Fern Creek Fire burning in the Endless Wall area of New River Gorge National River is 90 percent contained.
127-acre Gorge fire 'definitely suspicious'
A thick, gray haze hung in the air, making everything look like it was being seen through a dirty window pane. A deep breath would fill your lungs with a smell that didn't seem devastating. It was warm and comforting, like a campfire. The heavy winds would drag soot and smoke right into your eyes. Every one of your senses would be attacked at once.
MSHA cuts levels of allowable coal dust
The Obama administration said Wednesday it is cutting the amount of coal dust allowed in coal mines in an effort to help reduce black lung disease.
Budget decreases in family programs cut close to home
Celena Roby has spent the last six years looking over her shoulder just in case she sees him — the man who abused her for 11 years and who held her captive in a bathroom while her two children begged him not to hurt their mother.
Candidates speak at Oak Hill breakfast forum
Senate gridlock on both the state and national levels and government transparency dominated conversations at the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce "Meet the Candidates" forum Wednesday at Holiday Lodge.
VIDEO: New River Gorge wildfire is now 75 percent contained
The fire is now 75 percent contained and the burn area remains at an estimated 130 acres as there was no overnight fire spread.
Labor Dept. cuts levels of allowable coal dust
The Obama administration said Wednesday it is cutting the amount of coal dust allowed in coal mines in an effort to help reduce black lung disease.
- More Latest News Headlines
- Mercer County firefighters batting three different brush fires


text:
Friday, August 22, 2008
Celebrity Baby Names: Zuma Nesta Rock
37 comments:
- August 22, 2008 at 8:12 AM
- Hillary said...
I would like to know what the heck they're thinking. I don't like the name, but I could maybe get behind it if there was some really significant meaning behind it. Maybe.
Or maybe not. Nesta? Rock? --shakes head--
- August 22, 2008 at 8:25 AM
- Maggie said...
I'm glad to hear that I am not the only one who wasn't thinking that was not a great name choice.
To each their own, I suppose.
- August 22, 2008 at 8:28 AM
- Jenni said...
Quite possibly one of the worst baby names ever. It makes me wonder, were they not celebrities would they still give their child the same awful name, or is it because they are celebrities the feel the need to come up with something unique and original? Isn't being the kid of Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale unique enough?
- August 22, 2008 at 8:28 AM
- Mrs. M said...
knew a poor little girl named zuma. (zuma lillian if you're interested. no, i don't think those go together.)
her parents named her after a beach in cali where they used to go when they were dating.
doesn't mean i'm going to name my kid charleston! geesh!
- August 22, 2008 at 8:35 AM
- Fiona Picklebottom said...
Geez. And after they used a decent name the first go-round. This second kid is going to wish he'd been born first so he didn't get stuck with the crappy name.
- August 22, 2008 at 8:36 AM
- el-e-e said...
What IS the firstborn's name? I am not up on my celebrity gossip.
It's too bad, because Gwen and Gavin and both such great names. Zuma is bad enough without all the additional nonsense behind it. Poor kid.
- August 22, 2008 at 8:45 AM
- Swistle said...
El-e-e- First son's name is Kingston.
- August 22, 2008 at 9:16 AM
- Mayberry said...
Does anyone else automatically think ZIMA? What a horrible association.
- August 22, 2008 at 9:30 AM
- moo said...
why, YES, I would like to share, hee!
Gwen said "Nesta Rock" is in tribute to Bob Marley. This does not improve the name in my opinion.
I don't think Zuma goes with Kingston AT ALL ... and when I hear Zuma, I think GIRL.
Here's what I think happened (and I have NO factual evidence to back this up AT ALL): Gwen got to name the first son and Gavin got to name the second.
- August 22, 2008 at 9:31 AM
- Allyson said...
It sounds like some sort of landmark.
"Over summer vacation my family and I took a trip to see Zuma Nesta Rock. It's right before you get to the Grand Canyon."
- August 22, 2008 at 9:31 AM
- -R- said...
I think the name choice sounds like something you might think was cool and clever when you were 13, but then you grow up and are like, "Thank goodness I didn't have a baby when I was 13 because the name Zuma Nesta Rock would have been so embarassing!"
Mayberry, Zima was the first thing I thought of too.
- August 22, 2008 at 9:46 AM
- Sarah said...
I guess he'll grow up knowing how to throw a punch. As if life wasn't hard enough.
- August 22, 2008 at 9:55 AM
- Daycare Girl said...
Zuma is that little msn game where you shoot the balls out the frog's mouth.
And after Kingston James? That's nice. Zuma Nesta Rock is a string of words, or a landmark, but not a baby!
I like that theory about how Gavin must have gotten to name this one. The names certainly don't match, that's for sure.
- August 22, 2008 at 10:19 AM
- Kristi said...
Im so disappointed. I've been so excited for Gwen and Gavin's new baby name because I thought the first one was so great.
Zuma Nesta Rock...ugh. Zuma sounds like a girl's name.
- August 22, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Zuma Nesta sounds like a sleep aid to me!
I also thought it was for a girl.
- August 22, 2008 at 10:21 AM
- d e v a n said...
I think it sucks.
- August 22, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Growing up in Southern California, you would hear surf reports for Zuma Beach all the time. It is a great surfing beach near Malibu. I think it is a fine name, a place name, a little sporty and surfer-ish. Perhaps other regions of the country have place names others might perceive as strange?
- August 22, 2008 at 10:53 AM
- pseudostoops said...
Allyson- HA!
I heard the name before I knew the sex of the baby and I, too, assumed "girl."
Good news, though, is that he can go by "Rock" when he is older and is able to choose. "Hi, I'm Rock Rossdale" sounds kind of cool.
- August 22, 2008 at 11:03 AM
- Micah, Amy & Nicolae said...
really?! wth? is that a girl or boy, cause i cant tell but either name :)
- August 22, 2008 at 11:22 AM
- Erica said...
I HATE it like poison. I was so disappointed when I heard the name, because I just KNEW Gwen was going to give her second kid a fabulous name. I mean, Kingston is a wicked cool name, so I had high hopes.
And they were summarily dashed.
- August 22, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Neil Young put out a great album in 75 named Zuma.
- August 22, 2008 at 11:43 AM
- Giselle said...
daycare girl, I too keep thinking "ZUMA" in that Jamaican voice that the MSN game has. Ridiculous!
- August 22, 2008 at 11:50 AM
- Courtney said...
It totally makes me think of that sleep drug, what's it called? Lumanesta?
Otherwise, it's not too terrible.
- August 22, 2008 at 11:57 AM
- Hope said...
I hate it. I agree with daycare girl - it's not a name, it's a string of words.
Zuma has infinite brand associations to me: Zima, Puma, "zoom zoom zoom" (from the Mazda commercials), etc. It is brand-namey, not at all baby-boy-namey.
I also agree that it is feminine, but I would hate it for a girl too. Kingston James is soooo cool! Zuma? Ick.
- August 22, 2008 at 1:11 PM
- ccr in MA said...
I totally thought of Zima, too.
And, I missed the "second boy" part, and was completely assuming poor Zuma was a girl. Not that it's any better for a girl. Sheesh!
- August 22, 2008 at 1:16 PM
- Susan said...
I also assumed it was a girl's name. Perhaps they thought they were having a girl and then didn't want to think of another name when it turned out it was a boy.
- August 22, 2008 at 1:33 PM
- Amie said...
Sometimes I wonder if celebrities release fake names just so people don't know what their kid's real names are.
- August 22, 2008 at 7:22 PM
- Linda said...
I've always tried to like Gwen, but she always seemed like she was trying WAY too hard to be cool.
The name, I'm afraid, confirms my theory...
- August 22, 2008 at 8:20 PM
- Clarabella said...
Here's what Celebrity Baby Blog has on it:
(Sorry, I don't know how to make the link work.)
P.S. I don't care. I've given up trying to figure out why celebrities do anything they do.
- August 22, 2008 at 8:22 PM
- Cherish said...
It has been mentioned twice on here that Zuma is a beach in California, where Gwen is from. I dont think it is that strange to name your child after a place that has personal relevance to you. Same goes for Nesta Rock; we all know that both Gwen and Gavin are heavily into music so why is it so bad for them to honor an inspiration through their child?
I think it is an amazing name and kudos to them for sticking with it even though so many people will speak negatively about them.
- August 22, 2008 at 9:35 PM
- Rob and Kristen said...
I'm sorry, but it sounds like a sports drink or energy drink to me. Regardless of the inspiration, I don't like the name. Maybe Kingston got to name his baby brother?
- August 23, 2008 at 1:48 AM
Growing up in Mississippi, you heard about the Chickasawhey River all the time, but I don't know anyone who named a child Chickasawhey.
Zuma would be a good name in a teen sci-fi novel, but not so jolly to live with. And despite celebrities' perception, their children DO have to live in the same world as the rest of us.
- August 23, 2008 at 7:10 AM
I say "rock on" Gavin and Gwen. Maybe I'm just getting desensitized, but when I hear a celebrity has named their child something boring and normal I think "what a cop out! Push the envelope." Besides, name trends are shifting so much. I think it's completely acceptable to name your beloved child after something that inspires you or makes you happy. Why do you have to stick to a list of acceptable names?
Disclosure: I am completely biased though. My beautiful daughter's name is Cousteau. Most people thought it was SO weird when they first heard it, but now they say it suits her so much, and they LOVE the name. :)
- August 23, 2008 at 9:52 AM
- Mommy Daisy said...
Ugh! And that poor kid. Think about what he'll grow up to be with a name like that. If he wants to be a rock star, awesome! But if he turns out to be an accountant...uhh...not so much.
- August 25, 2008 at 9:02 AM
Nesta reminds me of Nestea - the drink. And Zuma defiantly sounds like a girl's name.
- August 25, 2008 at 12:42 PM
- jerseygirl89 said...
I saw the name on the E! ticker the other night and just assumed that they'd had a girl.
- August 25, 2008 at 5:00 PM


text:
Narrow your search
The 2014 Audi A7 TDI includes some of the best connected tech available today in an automobile, and those inclined to put up with a few diesel drivetrain quirks will be rewarded with significantly higher fuel economy than from the gasoline equivalent.
The 2014 Audi Q5 TDI works as a multipurpose vehicle, good for everything from the weekly commute to extended road trips, offering excellent information services through its dashboard electronics.
With diesel fuel economy and its wagon format, the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI offers great utility, and adds a premium-car feel, but cabin electronics only cover the basics.
Audi's smashing A7 wears a diesel -- but does it make any sense?
With its diesel engine, the 2014 Audi Q5 TDI gets about 5 mpg better than the equivalent gasoline version.
CNET's Brian Cooley loves the 2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI, which is a diesel and a wagon, two things that are not very popular in the United States. So why is he right and the rest of us wrong?
For years, many Audi owners have coveted the German automaker's innovative TDi engines. Starting next spring, Audi announced that select models will have the TDi engine available, including the A8, A7, and Q5.
Audi gives its Q5 crossover the TDI treatment, a diesel engine that pushes fuel economy up to the high 30s, about 5 mpg better than its gasoline equivalent.
For the 2014 model year, Audi pours its 3-liter diesel engine into the high-tech A7, giving it average fuel economy around 30 mpg.
Putting a diesel engine in a wagon gives a car excellent practicality, letting it carry a lot of cargo and get high fuel economy. The Jetta Sportwagen TDI takes these attributes and adds a premium cabin feel.


text:
Richfaces Performance 3.3.2Muthu Kumaran Feb 1, 2010 2:54 AM
We are having our Application using JSF+Richfaces framework and it is running on JBoss Application Server. The web page runs on IE 7 browser.
We have a NFR requirement that All the pages should be loaded within 4 seconds.
The pages are getting responded in 1-3 seconds in the production environment. But still rendering the page in IE 7 takes lot of time( > 15 seconds). We are using some of richfaces components. When we did the response time and rendering time analysis, we found lot of time is spent on the javascript execution.
Script Loaded/executed during page Load
Time in msec
Richfaces Menu x 50 instance
Richfaces Calendar x 8 instance
Richfaces Model x 10 instance
Richfaces File Upload x 1 instance
Richfaces Framework script - loading Framework + UI component js Load
Richfaces Data scroller x 7 instance
Richfaces Suggestion Box x 3 instance
Richfaces Toggle Panel x 5 instance
Richfaces Tab Panel component x 1 instance
Richfaces Progress Bar x 1 instance
Please let know how to reduce the javascript execution during page load for menu, calendar and modal panel.
1. Re: Richfaces Performance 3.3.2Ilya Shaikovsky Feb 1, 2010 4:24 AM (in response to Muthu Kumaran)
Do you using extendedDataTable component? If so - yes it's menus not optimized even in latest versions and takes many time to be initiated. So you could try to turn them off and if the results will be satisfiable - it seems that it would be better to implement them by implementing dynamic single context menu.
2. Re: Richfaces Performance 3.3.2Muthu Kumaran Feb 1, 2010 4:59 AM (in response to Ilya Shaikovsky)
We are not using the extendedDataTable in our project.
We are using Richfaces menu with the tool bar. For creating each menu item, it takes more than 100 ms. When we drill down the menu creation flow, we found lot of DOM update taking time on IE7.
We are facing the same issue with Calendar and modal panel also. Do you have any pointers for improving this.
We will also try implementing ajax loading of the menus.
Thanks and Regards
Muthu kumaran.S
3. Re: Richfaces Performance 3.3.2Nick Belaevski Feb 1, 2010 5:57 AM (in response to Muthu Kumaran)
Can you please provide some more information on performance measurement technique used and more detailed results?
4. Re: Richfaces Performance 3.3.2Muthu Kumaran Feb 1, 2010 6:58 AM (in response to Nick Belaevski)
We are using Fiddler and DynaTrace tool for analysis the page download time and javascript profiling.
Please refer to the attachment excel for time taken by each script.
RegardsMuthu kumaran.S
5. Re: Richfaces Performance 3.3.2Kerdudou Ronan Feb 1, 2010 7:02 AM (in response to Nick Belaevski)
We add a lot of performance problems with IE and rich:calendar initialisation while embeddd in several datatable rows.
The use of http://www.jroller.com/a4j/entry/richfaces_calendar_component_shared_calendar heped us a lot.
Hope this will help.
6. Re: Richfaces Performance 3.3.2Muthu Kumaran Feb 1, 2010 7:14 AM (in response to Kerdudou Ronan)
Yeah we tried this, it helped in reducing the page load time upto 2 secs. The results which i shared previously does not include this change.
Muthu kumaran.S
7. Re: Richfaces Performance 3.3.2veronica farina Apr 23, 2010 8:15 AM (in response to Muthu Kumaran)
I have just read your post and I will say that we have exactly the same problem than you. Our website has to be fast and, using RichFaces we really have performance issues (above all on IE7).
We already improved a lot our site building Richa JS customized (using the maven plugin), decreasing the number of RichFaces components, symplifying our pages, etc. But is still not enough.
Mainly, we are using: suggestionBox, calendars, dataTables and dataScroller from RichFaces. The JS for those components is very heavy (400KB) and, the difference between loading the JS and not is around 500 ms (that for our web site is a lot).
Have you got better performance since your last post? Do you have some ideas?
Thanks a lot for your help!
8. Re: Richfaces Performance 3.3.2Nick Belaevski Apr 23, 2010 4:59 PM (in response to veronica farina)
Try configure GZip compression for script files.
9. Re: Richfaces Performance 3.3.2henk de boer Apr 24, 2010 6:00 AM (in response to Muthu Kumaran)
Muthu Kumaran wrote:
We are facing the same issue with Calendar and modal panel also. Do you have any pointers for improving this.
We're having the same problems. Personally I love the modal panel, but its performance is really sub par. If you hide the panel when rendered and then show it via javascript, it's not that bad, but when you display it when rendered you can see the thing being build.
In our app, our UI is modeled such that the content the modal panel displays depends on which selection a user makes. We therefor can't really render it initially hidden. Via AJAX it's indeed possible to hide the latencies a little for the user, but that still doesn't take away the fact that the dialog is just really slow.
10. Re: Richfaces Performance 3.3.2veronica farina Apr 26, 2010 4:53 AM (in response to henk de boer)
Well, our performance issue is en general with the RichFaces JavaScript. The difference between loading the RichFaces JS and not is around 500ms.
We already use Gzip + JSMin to reduce as much as possible the JS. In fact, the JS size transferred with Gzip is around 90KB but, the problem seems to be on what is executed when the file is loaded.
The Calendar workaround that you mentioned on this post could help us a little bit, but I really don't like the idea of changing the JS offered by RichFaces, is not maintenable.
Some questions:
1. It is the JS file evaluated in each request? We noticed that the "evaluated" function takes time in some requests (above all on IE7).
2. Could we save some time putting in place the NEKO parser? As far we understand the neko parser we'll have an impact on the AJAX requests but not in the time spent to load the JS.
Thanks a lot for your help!
11. Re: Richfaces Performance 3.3.2Ilya Shaikovsky Apr 26, 2010 5:59 AM (in response to veronica farina)
2. Could we save some time putting in place the NEKO parser? As far we understand the neko parser we'll have an impact on the AJAX requests but not in the time spent to load the JS.
for sure. It will save lot of time which spent for responce parsing. Also please pay attention to forceparcer parameter. But using NEKO or NONE you should care more about having your markup w3c complaint.
12. Re: Richfaces Performance 3.3.2veronica farina Apr 26, 2010 11:35 AM (in response to Ilya Shaikovsky)
Hello Ilya,
Thanks for your help.
I put in place NEKO but I haven't noticed any important impact on the performance. And, sincerely, I am not sure that is parsing all requests.
The versions are:
RichFaces 3.3.0
nekohtml 1.9.14
Our web.xml config is:
...<filter><display-name>RichFaces Filter</display-name><filter-name>richfaces</filter-name><filter-class>org.ajax4jsf.Filter</filter-class><init-param><param-name>forceparser</param-name><param-value>false</param-value></init-param><init-param><param-name>enable-cache</param-name><param-value>true</param-value></init-param></filter>
Should the <a4j:log> display information about what is parsed by NEKO?? I would like to be sure if it's applied on all AJAX requests.
Thank you!
13. Re: Richfaces Performance 3.3.2Ilya Shaikovsky Apr 27, 2010 5:30 AM (in response to veronica farina)
RichFaces 3.3.0
I highly recommend to try 3.3.3.Final. We made much optimization works after 3.3.0 release.
14. Re: Richfaces Performance 3.3.2Max well Apr 30, 2010 3:55 AM (in response to veronica farina)
Hi, Veronica farina,
I have the same performance problem caused by Richfaces. I have ever tried to use the NEKO parser in Richfaces application, but the performance bottle-neck is still exists. Besides Menu, datatable, Calendar etc. Richfaces components, The Ajax4JSF POLL component's performance which is refreshed with interval 1000 is very slow. Do you have any opinion?


text:
So continuing the example above if i have three orders where the city is san francisco my sec keys will look like.Order/IDX-BY-CITY/San Francisco.${order_1_id}
Sorry about the lack of clarity. I was using the convention used in the documentation to denote major and minor keys. '/' for major key components and '.' for the minor key component.That's not your fault. I used the wrong convention myself (I'll edit my earlier post), and our documentation is inconsistent. The correct convention is to separate the major and minor paths with a /-/ as described here in the javadoc:
Yes.The inability to do transactions across partitions in this case seems like it may be a bit of a problem. Not sure how i am gonna handle that yet. Seems like i might need to have some sort of basic transaction log i am maintaining on insert/update/delete. Any insight you have into solving the latter problem would be appreciated.I can only say that it is quite a difficult problem to solve in a perfectly general way. If you can limit the use cases for your indices in some way, it may make the problem less difficult. I realize that's a very general statement and may not be very helpful.


text:
Miami nearly sold out the 2012 visit from Florida State but expects to fill Sun Life Stadium for the Sept. 7 game with Florida. (Michael Casagrande/Sun Sentinel / July 29, 2013)
CORAL GABLES — Attendance can be a touchy subject surrounding Miami football.
Filling the 75,000-plus seats in Sun Life Stadium isn't the easiest feat as the Dolphins can tell you. But UM has a bit of momentum in the ticket sales category still a month away from the 2013 season kickoff.
Fueled by increased on-field optimism and the Week 2 visit from the Florida Gators, new season ticket sales have already doubled last season's. About 8,000 new seats were sold so far, a UM spokesman told the Sun Sentinel.
The renewal percentage is over 80 percent. Overall, numbers are up roughly 20 percent over 2012 levels.
UM is not releasing full sales numbers and, as a private institution, is not required to do so.
But Miami officials are confident they'll sell 30,000 season tickets this season. Packages start at $98.
The seven-game home schedule is top heavy with the first three games set for Sun Life Stadium. The Aug. 30 opener with FAU is followed by the Sept. 7 visit from the Gators. After a bye week, Savannah State comes Sept. 21.
But it's the Week 2 showdown with the Gators of Gainesville that is moving the meter more than anything.
The allotment for single-game tickets were sold out before going on sale on the full public market. Season-ticket holders and donors had first dibs and they gobbled up the remaining supply not held for season sales.
The rest of the single-game seats go on sale Aug. 5.
Miami sold/distributed an average of 47,719 tickets last season — down from the 56,207 in 2011 that's the high of the first five seasons in Sun Life Stadium.
Follow our UM coverage on Twitter at @ByCasagrande and Facebook and click here for text message alerts.


text:
At Cambia Health Solutions, we advocate for transforming the health care system. You arent satisfied with the status quo and neither are we. We're looking for individuals who are as passionate as we are about working on many fronts to change the way people experience health care. Cambia is a nonprofit total health solutions company that has been serving our communities for almost a century. We had our beginnings in the logging communities of the Pacific Northwest as innovators in helping workers afford health care. That pioneering spirit has kept us at the forefront as we build new avenues to improve access to and quality of health care for the future.
About Cambia
Cambia companies seek to transform health care by:
- Making health care more affordable and accessible
- Increasing consumers engagement in their health care decisions
- Offering a diverse range of products and services that promote the health and wellbeing of our members
We do this through Cambia-held companies that deliver retail health care, consumer engagement and wellness, as well as through pharmacy benefit management, which highlights comparative-effectiveness research and voluntary employer-based benefits structured to fit every stage of life. Additionally, our nonprofit health insurance plans carry the Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand. If you are seeking a career that affects change in the health care system, we are seeking you.


text:
This season, Christopher Bailey gave us a lesson in art history with an autumn-winter collection called "The Bloomsbury Girls." The title refers to the designer's on-going fascination with the early…read
Meet Neelam Johal, Burberry's latest muse. (Vogue UK) Hey bloggers! Dazed & Confused wants to help you out. (The Cut) They say that nothing is free. Yeah, well, tell that to the $50 block of…read
Apple is no longer a boys' club. Well, at least not entirely. The 10-person, all-male executive suite will see the first woman to join its ranks next year. As we reported yesterday, Angela Ahrendts, currently…read
Changes are afoot at Burberry: The luxury retailer has just announced that Christopher Bailey is to take on the role of CEO alongside his existing title of chief creative officer. The company also disclosed…read


text:
A standards-based, bidirectional Web services gateway for Oracle Tuxedo that supports enterprise applications written in programming languages such as C, C++, and COBOL.
The #1 C, C++, COBOL application server for conventional, rehosted, and cloud environments with mainframe-grade RASP.
The #1 C/C++/Cobol Application Server for Conventional and Cloud EnvironmentsWatch the announcement Webcast


text:
Listening and watching:
Oh my God. Speechless.!
I'd say this should be #1 of the 90s
my God, I'd say no no no... especially to that clip, faggot all over... but that's ofcourse your choice
well on the radio the #1 song from the 90's was Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit, not that bad song but I don't really like Nirvana that much. It's hard for me to give the 90's a number 1 song, I guess it would be a happy hardcore house number... dutch ofcourse
[quote user="Saint"]well this whole week was 90's request on my fave radio station, and today was the top 100 - 90's[:D] so I've bin on the radio whole day long, oohh man some great numbers I all forgot about, so many memories[:)] radiohead, live, nirvana, u2, red hot chilli peppers, metallica... to many to put here, also alot of trance and house... happy hardcore[:D] woooohooo, totally my day!!!!! can't get enough of it.[/quote]
Why did you mention my favourites? :D
Now I am listening Depeche mode - Never let me down again.
I actually like Nirvana, but from grunge I prefer Pearl Jam. 'Ten' was just amazing, it's one of the best 90's album for sure and one of the most cohesive albums I've ever heard. But so miscellanneous in the same way.
i like this songs
Now you see - this is why you should leave anything about music to me - you've just brought down not one of the best songs of the 90s,but one of the best of all time...
I think you need to understand what stuff is the best: http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/
#51 of all time


text: When it comes to shopping, it depends on the shopper whether or not they will use their coupons extremely, almost as if hoarding. If you do donate or give some of the perishable goods to others, then that's one good thing. We're all looking to save cash in these troubled times. Coupon cutting is one way to conserve cash on groceries and other products. But not every penny is worth the cost of earning it. TLC's reality show "Extreme Couponing" depicts an action that, for some, may become a dark obsession. Article source: Coupon clipping can help but it has a dark side.


text:
Schott Zwiesel's ENOTECA line provides a complete range of connoisseur glasses in high quality crystal glass. The titanium crystal means the glass bowls can be thin walled but still retain great resilience. The Enoteca range includes exquisite bowl shapes which are designed to enhance varities of red wines and white wines. There are also different stems for sparkling wines and champagnes. The collection is completed with special shapes for aperitifs, after dinner cordials, cocktails, and mineral water. A complete connoisseur's collection!
Zwiesel 1872 is an expression of tradition and character. Zwiesel believes in the enduring ideal of value associated with superior design. The art of creating crystal glass by hand is today, more than ever before, the factor which provides that essential spark of character. A spark that in Zwiesel 1872 is married to a Bavarian tradition that has been associated with good taste for over 130 years. This is what the Zwiesel 1872 brand stands for.
The key motivation behind their design initiatives was the human sense of longing for character. Only those things which stand out from the mass, which have unique and therefore memorable identities, earn their appreciation in the long term. Zwiesel's aim is to produce product that has a desirable, aesthetically pleasing shape, so that it feels right and stands out. This is how they can ensure longevity of appeal. In fact the most complex of objects manufactured from glass, even today, can only be made by hand. Mouth-blown crystal glass, created under the Zwiesel 1872 brand, always conveys its superior origin, through its noble weight and elegant design. The trace of fine air bubbles, captured at the moment of creation, as well as the deep luster, of the multi-layered colors, are the signs of the luxurious art of hand crafted creation, Zwiesel 1872 have learned across 125 years of manufacturing success.
|11.2" H x 4.3" W


text: Meta Battle Subway PokeBase - Pokemon Q&A Login Register All Activity Questions Unanswered Tags Users Ask a Question Rules Chat Heracross with Guts ability, does pokerus count towards 50% extra attack? 0 votes In Sapphire my internal battery has run dry, however my Heracross which I traded over from leaf green and original sapphire has pokerus. In the game he does not infect others but neither does he seem to be cured of pokerus. My question is will pokerus increase my heracrosses attack state constantly or not at all as my Heracross has the special ability Guts (When Heracross is inflicted with a status condition, it's attack is raised by 50%). Any ideas?? pokerus battery guts asked Apr 6, 2013 by Ninja_Peek Everyone should understand my logic though, I mean it takes up the status condition block. commented Apr 6, 2013 by Ninja_Peek Please log in or register to add a comment. Please log in or register to answer this question. 1 Answer 1 vote Best answer Pokerus does not count as a status condition. It will not gain any attack boost anyway from guts. So No, it will not still gain any attack boost. Source: Experience + Logic answered Apr 6, 2013 by Stay_Silent selected Apr 6, 2013 by Ninja_Peek experience ? you have seen Pokerus yourself ? commented Apr 6, 2013 by MK 42 I misunderstood. Now I have changed it. commented Apr 6, 2013 by Stay_Silent Please log in or register to add a comment. Related questions Facade and guts on heracross? If a Pokemon with guts is inflicted with status, and is then healed, is the attack boost kept? By how much does Guts increase attack? And is it hindered when burned? Guts ability plus which status orb? I am desperately trying to to figure this out the ability guts Heracross abilities and the moxie ability? How powerful woul a Pokemon be with guts and life orb? How to deal with a Guts+Flame Orb Hariyama? Useful Meta Posts How to change your username How to add a user avatar Why was my post hidden? The points system Question etiquette Flags vs Downvotes Anime FAQ


text:
Within the first twenty four hours of its release, Diablo III sold over three and a half million copies. This set a new record and established this action video game as the best selling PC game of 2012. Set twenty years after the events in Diablo II, Diablo III takes place in the fantasy world of the Diablo series called Sanctuary. The plot of the game centers around Deckerd Cain, his niece Leah, and events that transpire after they go to Tristram Cathedral to seek out old, ancient texts that contain a prophecy. Players can choose to role-play an array of characters from five character classes. Read More →
NCAA 14 (video game) Overview
Fans of NCAA football can enjoy playing the game themselves with the latest release in the video game franchise. EA's latest release, NCAA 14, is available for both the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3. NCAA 14 features Denard Robinson, the former quarterback for the University of Michigan. One thing to keep in mind with this game is that it will be the last NCAA game that EA releases because the association will no longer allow the video game developer to use the name or logo in new games. Read More →
Titanfall, the most anticipated game in recent times, was finally released on the Xbox One and is now being released on the Xbox 360 as well. My first impressions of the first person shooter are positive. The game makers have tried something different with no single player campaign to speak of and only online multiplayer gaming included. It was a risky move, as we all saw what happened with the Sim City launch (it was an unmitigated disaster), well luckily Microsoft got on their weight bench and did the heavy lifting with ease. There were a few setbacks initially however insiders say that Titanfall was not responsible for that server outage, it was more of an unfortunate co incidence.
The game play itself is fluid. You have two main characters that you can choose to play as the nimble Pilots or the massive hulking Titans. Respawn, the game makers have treaded that fine line where they did not give too much advantage to any one of the two. There are parts of the map where the Titans are simply too large to reach, effectively limiting the Titan's range of movement. The Titan's are also much slower to move although a single blow is enough to crush the life out of a pilot.
The Pilots make up in speed what they lose in size. They have amazing parkour ability that basically leaves no area of the map unreachable. They can scale buildings easily and with speed.
So far what I have described is well executed however, nothing that has not been seen in other first person shooters. Where Titanfall excels is allowing the Pilots to call on the Titans once the necessary points have been racked up and then allowing them to jump out of it if they feel the need to at a moment's notice.
This gives the game a fluidity that is really new and refreshing.
Another thing, Titanfall has been made keeping the 'average gamer' in mind. That means you don't have to practice for hours to get good at kills. Its as easy as riding a kid scooter. That may anger the diehard first person shooter, but by lowering the entry level skill required for the game they have made it accessible to a much larger percentage of the gamer population.
Seeing as the same team was responsible for 'Call of Duty' franchise, there were some similarities. There is a very similar method and pathway for up gradation of weapons although the selection is nowhere near as vast. However, it would be unfair to label this game a rehashed version of call of duty with robots as has been reported in some sections of the press.
All in all, Titanfall does not look to do anything revolutionary or totally new. It is still however a different and fun take on the first person genre. The game is probably the most well made and thrilling game that I have played in years. I actually played it for so many hours straight, that I had to use my weight bench so I can do some muscle stretching in between game pauses.
This could very well provide the boost that Microsoft is looking at for its gaming system.
If you fancy taking on the role of a real estate mogul like these guys
Buying up below market average houses, upgrading them and then adding a few local attractions to get the tenants in, then there are some good house building apps and games available.
Build A Lot
On the Google play store, you can pick up Build-A-Lot, which is the classic house building strategy came. It has a range of different neighbourhoods to choose from and allows you to build, buy and sell properties.
You can build up cash quite quickly then add in attractions like a cinema to get a movie star to move in or an ice rink to bring the Olympics. The game is free to download and has great graphics along with two play modes; career and casual.
Build-A-Lot 2;
Town of the Year is the next in the series and sees you being given a series of assignments from the locals to develop their town. These can be from building new homes to improving the appeal of the town and the faster you complete the tasks, the better score you get. New goals come along as you progress along with new types of buildings. It has the same high quality graphics as the original and is still free.
Build-A-Lot 3:Passport to Europe is the newest game in the franchise and sees the same elements as the previous games as well as the new development where you travel across European countries such as Spain and Switzerland to work on town improvement. You still build houses and develop the towns to complete tasks and different locations have specialist buildings such as English cottages, Swiss chalets and Spanish haciendas.
New developments also include removing dilapidated buildings, refurbishing rental properties to improve housing and having work affected by weather conditions such as snow and rain. There are even a few crises which happen to add a little spice to the game.
Live Interior 3D Free
If you like to have a bit of fun with the computer but also want something a little more serious, then check out Live Interior on the Windows Store. This is a powerful home and interior designer programme which can be great if you are renovating your home and want to look at some ideas before committing. It can also be useful for students in property training courses to try out some of the theories they are learning.
You create details 2D floor plans with over 1200 objects and 1500 materials and then render them into a 3D visual to let you look around the rooms. You can even play around with lighting settings to see how fixtures work and build up to two story buildings with a loft, as well. The images can be shared via the
Windows Sharing Feature as well if you want to show off your work or grab a second opinion.
These are just a couple of the variations of house and home builders on the different free markets.
Whether you are looking for a simple bit of fun or something a little more technical and real life, there are some great free apps for you.
A friend of mine recently asked me about monster truck games available on the app store. She is throwing him a birthday party with a monster truck theme and wants a cool video game that he can play on his iPad. Lucky for her there are some cool games out there for just such an occasion. So without any further ado here is my pick for the best Monster Truck mayhem for mobile apps. Monster Truck Destruction by Chillingo Ltd. This game is awesome with 30 different vehicles to choose from including the well-known Bigfoot. This game allows you to compete in races similar to the ones you see at Monster Jam or compete in freestyle events that wow the crowds with destruction and stunts.
The game does offer In-App purchases where you can unlock various trucks and levels, however if you are a serious player you can unlock everything just by playing, and playing well. The game features a garage where you can upgrade your monster truck with the winnings you receive from competing in various races and freestyle events. The upgrades include better engines, intakes, transmissions, suspension and exhaust. The upgrades enhance your trucks ability to jump farther and smash better. Speaking of smashing the developer has done a decent job with the graphics, especially for a mobile app. You can smash busses, drive through RV's, destroy signs and of course smash cars. Not only does the game allow you to obliterate everything in the arena, hard game play will result in your truck loosing tires and sustaining damage as well.
The game offers drag races against an AI opponent, a freestyle event where you can smash everything in your way all while performing incredible stunts and a championship series where you can claim the title. There is also an unlimited practice mode where you hone your smashing skills. The game has realistic physics programming that allows your truck to slide, roll, bounce and drift realistically.
As of the date of this article the game has over 13,000 reviews whit an overall rating of 4 and a half starts out of a possible 5 which is impressive. I went through some of the reviews to see what people were saying. Most of the reviews were very positive. Most people want more trucks, specifically Grave Digger. A person can upgrade to a different truck for only .99 cents however some of the newer trucks like Grave Digger and Maximum Destruction are not currently available.
The initial download is free, for a limited time on the App Store. It requires IOS 4.3 or later and can be played on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. According to the developer the game is optimized for iPhone 5. I tested this game on an iPad generation 4. The game play is smooth and I must admit it's a keeper. The developer states that it is intended for ages 4+, however my three year old took to it right away. As a matter of fact it's all he wants to play now!
The livid boss of a UK fitness company that provides Pilates qualifications described yesterday how his business lost £40,000 (about $66,560) of income over the months of February and March because his staff had been spending all of their working hours playing Elder Scrolls Online instead of performing their usual tasks.
The South-London office of Discovery Learning, a fitness vocational training company that provides personal trainer courses and Pilates instructor courses, is normally a busy place of work in which the thirteen full-time staff members are constantly on the phone selling fitness courses to men and women interested in pursuing careers in health and fitness.
Recently however, the staff became distracted and abandoned their duties to spend days at a time playing the pre-order version of a recently released online role-playing adventure video game, resulting in a huge decline in the number of courses sold.
The game in question, Elder Scrolls Online, is a MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing game) developed by ZeniMax Online Studios. It is part of the Elder Scrolls series of video games which has been one of the most popular video game series in the world for over ten years.
It is the first title in the series that can be played online with other players instead of only by oneself as a single player, allowing friends to play and adventure together in a digital fantasy world, which is reportedly what the staff of Discovery were doing all day when their director was out of the office.
"It all began in early February," said Nicholas Brody, managing director of Discovery. "We were going through a very bad sales patch. Hardly any of our Discovery Pilates teacher training courses were selling and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why. They're the best Pilates courses in all of England."
"What first made me suspect that something was amiss with my staff was actually a dog. I spend a lot of time out of the main office at the Discovery UK personal trainer courses Nottingham academy. Whenever I returned to the office, this little Chihuahua dog called Alfie who belonged to one of my sales team would be sitting outside the entrance. Whenever he saw me, he would bark loudly as if trying to warn a home owner about an intruder."
"The saleswoman who owned the dog said that it was only in the office because it gets lonely when left by itself at home all day, but because of the way it always barked when it saw me approach the building but never barked at anyone else, I eventually realized after about eight weeks that the staff must have trained the dog to warn them when I was approaching the office."
"I wanted to know if my staff were doing anything inappropriate while I wasn't in the office with them, so I had a local IT security firm go in there one night and install monitoring software on the office computer system."
"I spent the following day watching a video feed of what my staff were doing on their computers. I couldn't believe what I saw. It looked to me like a cartoon or something at first. There were a bunch of little characters like dwarves and elves running around a castle or something killing dragons and monsters and stuff. The characters all had the same names as my employees so I realized that my staff were playing some sort of game."
"Worst of all, every time a customer would log onto our website's live chat support system and ask for help purchasing one of our Pilates courses or anything else, my staff would type stuff like 'go away I'm on a dungeon raid!' and then close the chat window and continue playing the game. I was absolutely outraged."
Mr Brody estimated that the loss in sales had cost Discovery "about forty-thousand pounds" during the time between when the staff started playing the game and when he finally discovered what was happening.
Elder Scrolls Online launched on April 4 2014 for PC and Mac OSX. Versions for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 will be released in June 2014.
In the video game industry, it is not enough that the game itself sells. To compliment the game's profit, developers and companies tend to create merchandising items that will squeeze out more money from their hard work. The usual products that are sold on the market are shirts or toys. However, I discovered that several companies have also released pieces of merchandise that are extremely insane and out of this world. Check my article out to discover the seven weirdest video game items that were ever sold.
1. No More Heroes Toilet Paper
This toilet paper was supposed to be given away during the launch of No More Heroes in Japan. Unfortunately, hardly anyone came to the event, so boxes of this toilet paper were shipped to American journalists who would appreciate this simple gesture.
Each sheet has a specially printed No More Heroes image as well as the wrapper from which it came from. So why did the developers create a toilet paper merchandise, you ask? In the game, the main character Travis Touchdown has a hilarious habit of "touching down" on the toilet seat in order to save his advancement.
2. Resident Evil 4 Aftershave
In order to promote the release of Resident Evil 4, the developers introduced a line of products called "Leon's collection." These include a pair of sunglasses, a sleek, brown faux-leather jacket similar to the one that the main character wears, and, a nice big bottle of aftershave.
Although you may not really see this product being sold at the best aftershave sites like this one, it is still a pretty neat, albeit weird, item. I've tried this before, and I can say, I felt manlier than Leon Scott Kennedy himself.
3. PlayStation video game controller earrings
Do you have a girlfriend who is also a hardcore gamer? Well, these video game controller earrings will be a perfect gift for her. It's made from tough acrylic plastic and has a silvertone tie pin with clutch back so it is totally durable.
4. FarmVille Ice cream
When FarmVille was still king of social media gaming, Zynga had a big promotional deal with convenience store 7-Eleven and introduced the FarmVille ice cream. For just $2.99, you will be able to taste a sweet treat made from "natural and artificial" flavors. In addition, each ice cream tub has an item redeem code that you can use when you play the game.
5. Super Mario Brothers Long Stitch
Over the years, the popular Italian plumber Mario has been the face of a lot of Nintendo merchandising products. From shirts, handheld showers, a USB computer mouse, developers have always found something creative to milk the franchise for what it's worth. However, none is as absurd as this long stitch picture kit. I just think that video games and embroidery don't work well. Cross-stitching and playing video games are two different activities that have a separate target market so it's really stupid to combine them both in one item.
6. Konami Dish Cloth
Even if you are a hardcore Metal Gear Solid fan, you would never want to be caught cleaning the dishes with this dish cloth. It has a great, geeky design, but it is totally useless at drying dishes.
7. Dead or Alive Kasumi Squishy Pillow
Even though it's totally impossible to have a sexy game character as a girlfriend, at least you can experience sleeping with them using this fluffy pillow. Best stress reliever after an intense game of Dead or Alive, don't you think?
These are just some of the utterly bizarre video game merchandise that I found online. Have you tried them before? If you also know other products that are more baffling than my list, feel free to share them in the comments section below.
I remember a time when online games, especially MMORPGs, kicked a lot of butts. Games like Runescape and Eve Online were at the pinnacle of MMORPGs. Let us not forget other favourites like Counterstrike and Warcraft III. Back then, online games used to stand out AS IS. It's a game that you can play online. There were no obligations to pay for the game and there was no pressure to win it. Back then, people would simply log in and play. How I wish that online games of today could still be as enjoyable as they were almost a decade ago.
Nowadays, we see just how competitive online games are today. Even mobile games that can be played online via your smartphone have this small hurdle that you can jump over if you pay for a certain feature, like buying in-game currency. Other games like World of Warcraft and Guild Wars, 2 of the hottest MMORPGs, allow you to buy pets or items using real money. Where's the justice? What about people who cannot afford or unable to pay for in-game items using real money? Sure, you can have a powerful gaming laptop but it will be useless when it comes to online transactions in a virtual world.
Now, we have to understand that online games, be it on your smartphone or gaming laptop, come in different forms. You have your games based on an F2P or Free-to-Play model, which allows you to play without paying for anything or even pay to get ahead. You have games like Dragon Nest and League of Legends as an example. You have your P2W or Pay-to-Win model, which is an off-shoot of F2P. It's a game that allows you to play for free, but in order to get ahead you have to pay real money. Games like Aika Online and RF Online are good examples. Lastly, you have your P2P or Pay-to-Play model. This is the opposite of F2P. These games require monthly subscriptions so that you can continue adventuring. They may also share features from the F2W model where you can buy items that add to your character stats using real money. You have World of Warcraft and Guild Wars 2 as an example. Recent games like Final Fantasy Realm Reborn also follow this model.
What does this say for the current state of online games?
Money is the centre of online games, both virtual and real. You need real money to buy in-game currency and you need in-game currency to sell it for real money. Remember the gold farmers in China that plagued World of Warcraft? That's kind of like the same thing, and the money to be made in selling in-game currency is very high. Money dictates how online games are being made and played nowadays. Go get your smartphone or tablet and see just how many mobile games will often involve real money for in-game currency or items. Don't get me wrong. There are people who will spend a few dollars to get ahead and that's OK, but there are also people who are unable to do so because they are either financially challenged or simply can't buy it (credit card details or geographic location will affect purchases).
What is happening to online games nowadays is a reflection of society. People with money can get ahead and people who don't have it are left to struggle.
Minecraft has completely taken the gaming industry by storm without any of the flashy and fancy effects that so many game developers strive to achieve every day. This is a game for both children and adults alike which makes it quite interesting. You won't see commercials featuring gameplay, or read reviews on how its graphics are the best that a magazine has ever seen. So how is it possible for a game to achieve this level of success without all of the hype that we see for the majority of video games? The answer to that is simple and complex at the same time, the sandbox. This article will talk about how the sandbox game Minecraft has broken sales records in the gaming industry and captivated players of all ages.
The first feature of the game is that there are very low borders to entry. The game itself is $15 and you can start having fun playing on just about any computer. You don't need the latest gaming hardware to experience the game; you can even use an old laptop as it is very easy to run. There are not advanced graphics or rendering, although that can be added in of course. This brings us to the next feature.
The greatness of Minecraft is derived from the fact that it is a sandbox game which means that players don't just play the game, but they help create it. There are many different modes of gameplay including survival which allows you to go head to head with monsters such as zombies and creepers. Or there is creative, which gives you all of the tools that the developers used to build the game. In this mode, you can create worlds or functions that will influence how the game plays. Engaging and challenging the human mind in a balance between playing and creating is the factor that sets this apart from many other games. If you don't like a certain feature of how the game works, just go ahead and change it, then go back to playing. This ability of controlling the feel of the game makes it appeal to users of all levels, from just basic players to advanced programmers. Some people will find themselves never playing the game and just using its tools to build complex and beautiful worlds while others enjoy running around and playing the very simple gametypes that exist across the internet.
Mojang who is the creator of the game does not host the servers for online play. Minecraft server hosts have filled this gap by providing players with a cloud solution for their Minecraft dreams and aspirations. They can purchase a server and build anything they would like inside of it then allow friends to login and play with them. Certain companies have taken this to the next level and created massive worlds where thousands of players log on each day to play in the specific games that they have created. There are endless opportunities for types of games that exist, some being inspired by old school video games, such as Duck Hunt and some being inspired by movies, like Survival Games. It is this wide variety of experiences within the game that gives it infinite replay ability and is concluding to be the most widely played game in the world.
You may not have heard about it as there aren't many commercials or advertisements for this wildly popular game, but League of Legends is moving towards being the most widely played game in the entire world. There are a few reason for why we suggest that you should give it a try and are confident in saying that you will have an enjoyable experience. This is a MOBA style game which you more than likely have not played before which stands for Multiplayer Online Battle Arena and is a great variation on the real estate strategy concept. If you have played games such as Starcraft or World of Warcraft you will most certainly enjoy this game. Its level of difficulty scales as your experience improves so League of Legends guides are highly recommended to help keep you on top of your game.
The first great aspect of League of Legends is that the game is widely accessible so you and your friends can try it out. The teams are in sizes of 5 members so it will be easy to coordinate with your teammates over voice chat or something similar. Did we mention that the game is also free to play, but not pay to win? This great model allows anyone to give the game a try without feeling like they have to break out their wallet to enjoy the game. All you need is your favorite gaming mouse and you are ready to join the battle. You can jump right into the action with only the assistance of a League of Legends guide to understand more than enough required to participate. The only in game purchases are available to help you improve the appearance of your characters or hasten your leveling up capacity, but is definitely not required to be competitive in the standard matches. If you are a casual or hardcore gamer it is nice being able to test out a game for free while being able to experience every aspect of it, rather than just a small portion which does not reveal the whole game.
Another benefit of playing League of Legends is that it is one of those games that embraces imbalance to create a more full and challenging experience for the game. The problem with perfectly balanced games is that once this balance is established set strategies can be created which take some of the real time problem solving and action out of a game that should be focused on this such as Starcraft. In League of Legends you will find that strategies change every single match with no real set style of play required to be successful. You will notice that you can be effective from any position on any character which brings a sense of complexity to the game, not to mention that there are over 100 different champions to chose from so it is very rare that you will find yourself repeating the same match. This might seem overwhelming but there are many sites that offer guides for League of Legends which will help give you a foundation of understanding of your player to get you started. After that though, you are all on your own to strategize and execute to win games.
Recently, the most popular game in the world was a delightful game about a struggling bird called Flappy Bird. The game came out in May of 2013 but was mostly overlooked by everyone who is really into playing games on their smart phones or tablets.
However, Flappy Bird really took off in December, and by the first week of February, the game had been taken down by its creator, Dong Nguyen. However, the loss of Flappy Bird opened the door for many clones of the games, including one called Flying Cyrus.
The New Game On Top
Flying Cyrus features the likeness of one of America's most talented singers, Miley Cyrus. The young singer is on tour right now and her Bangerz tour is considered very controversial because she dresses in skimpy costumes and also rolls around on a fancy gold car with gold car rims (which look a lot like these ones from Finish Line Wheels) while flicking her tongue in and out.
In the Flying Cyrus game, a character that has spiky blond hair on top with brown sides, bright red lips, and a wild flapping tongue, much like the real Miley Cyrus does for every photo opportunity, has to fly through the air while ducking things like swinging metal balls and giant sledge hammers.
Reviews For the Flying Cyrus Game
Now that Flappy Bird is gone, there are many new games that basically copy Flappy Bird, but with various animals like dragons, fish and bees. The Flying Cyrus game is on top right now at the Apple store because of the fact it has the likeness of Miley Cyrus, who is not only make headlines for her Bangerz tour, but also because of her behavior.
There is an old saying about there being no such thing as bad publicity, and that may be the case with the 21-year-old singer. Whether people love Miley Cyrus or hate her, the fact that people are talking about her is enough for the Flying Cyrus game to reach the top of the free game charts.
However, there are both good and bad reviews for the game:
- What people are saying in praise of the game: The best reviews for the Flying Cyrus game are the fact that it involves Miley Cyrus. Though her antics may involve gold cars with fancy car rims, skimpy costumes, and dance moves that involve a flicking tongue and gyrating hips, people still remember the 21-year-old singer as the lovable Hannah Montana, with her long blonde hair and good singing voice. The idea that Flying Cyrus involves guiding the Miley-like head with flicking tongue is great fun, and there are many positive reviews about how much fun the game truly is. People have posted in their reviews that the game is entertaining, has good graphics, and is a challenge.
- Others dislike the game, saying that the likeness of Miley Cyrus is described as silly, especially with the flapping tongue, and they claim that the tongue that has helped the singer made headlines makes the game more difficult.
Flying Cyrus is the new Flappy Bird
With Flappy Bird now a thing of the past, the new game that has everyone talking is Flying Cyrus. The game has the head of Miley Cyrus, complete with flicking tongue, trying to dodge obstacles like swinging wrecking balls and huge sledge hammers. While the Flying Cyrus game is number one right now, the fact is that the game has both positive and negative reviews.
How long the Flying Cyrus game will remain on top remains to be seen, but for now, people can enjoy the chance to guide the head of Miley Cyrus through obstacles and just let them have a good time, which is what games are supposed to do.
There are millions of apps on the World Wide Web that you can download on your smartphone to help you kill time and also to improve its efficiency. Some of them are free and others are premium with extra features while some have both a free and paid for version. We've picked a few apps that we think warrant your attention.
1. Hassle Me
This is sort of like a reminder and it helps you get things done especially if you are the forgetful type. It's layout is pretty simple and its very quick. You can customize it such that it reminds you of your tasks a certain number of times per day. There's also a notification pop-up in its live tile so all you have to do is glance at it and you'll be reminded of any pending tasks.
2. Reeder 2
This is an interesting app that lets you keep up with the latest world stories. It pulls stories from different internet sources and you can read as much as you want without being interrupted by advertisements every now and then.
3. Dial a service
This is a great app for people who are looking for services within their local area. It is able to pull up different services from different registered companies in different industries. For instance, if you are looking for a personal injury law firm, a number of reputable and credible firms will appear in the app's search results. If you are looking for a specific personal injury lawyer in Rhode Island, it will pin point their exact location and also give you an address. This app not only saves time but it gives you access to registered and legitimate businesses.
3. Divvy Up
This is a bill splitting app that includes a quick split option, a tip calculator and you can itemize receipts. There is a free version which does not contain any ads and a premium version which has extra features.
4. Any.Do
This is a planning app that's simple to use and well designed. There are many planning apps out there but this one really stands out with its text prediction, cloud syncing and sharing capabilities.
5. Umano
This is an app that lets you listen to newspapers online rather than read them. This is a great app for people who are always on the move and reading is not an option. You can listen to extracts from sources like Forbes, Mashable, New Yorker, etc. It's like listening to a personalized radio station.
6. Sleep talk recorder
45% of adults snore while five percent talk in their sleep. This app records the sounds you make when you are asleep. The good thing about it is that it omits silent intervals.
7. Sleep cycle alarm clock
It calculates the quality and duration of your sleep and keeps track of how it affects your diet and stress impact on that. The alarm helps you start your day when you are refreshed by waking you up in your lightest sleep.
There you have it, the top seven apps you should get for your new smartphone. They are all compatible with Android or iOS smartphones.


text:
President Obama and Patricia Millett / Manuel Balce Ceneta, AP
Presidents can comment on domestic events from anywhere, which is why President Obama issued a statement from South Africa on the Senate confirmation of a new federal judge.
Patricia Millett, the newest member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, is the first Obama judge to be confirmed since Senate Democrats ended the Republicans' ability to filibuster judicial nominees.
Obama did not mention the filibuster flap in his statement:
"I'm pleased that in a bipartisan vote, the Senate has confirmed Patricia Millett to be a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, filling a vacancy that has been open since 2005.
"Ms. Millett is a leading appellate lawyer who has made 32 arguments before the Supreme Court, the second-most by a female advocate. She has served in the Department of Justice for both Democratic and Republican Presidents.
"I'm confident she will serve with distinction on the federal bench."
Copyright 2014 USATODAY.com
Read the original story: Obama praises judicial confirmation


text:
Create fully responsive galleries fastly and with ease on your website. Global Gallery comes with three gallery layouts, four lightboxes ready to use and is designed to be visible on each device: whether you are using a retina MacBook or an Android phone.
News in 2.1 version100% multilanguage – Global Gallery now is completely translatable both in front and back-end. Plus it is WPML certified: create multilingual galleries won't be a problem anymore!
Slider's lightbox – a new button has been added to the slider to open the images into the lightbox that you are currently using. Everything has been studied to work seamlessly together and give users the best "image experience" possible. Plus now you can also set which functions to hide in the slider.
The 2.0 versionGlobal Gallery has been completely enhanced, almost all the code has been optimized and many new features has beed added. Here's the best ones:
- Gallery Collections: Need a smart and clean way to display and categorize multiple galleries galleries? Now you can create gallery collections. Select, sort and manage the galleries to display with each collection. Finally insert them in your pages through the collections shortcode and decide if show the filters. Try a collection here!
- Images Slider: now you have a new way to display your galleries. A full responsive, slider with full control on width and height. Also this is highly optimized to run on mobile browsers with touch interactions.
You can manage each aspect, from the way images are displayed to the sliding effects, timings, auto-slideshow and the displayed elements. See the slider in action!
- Images direct link: simply choose a WP page to link or enter a custom URL. Linked images won't be opened in the classic lightbox, becoming a nice way to manage the traffic in your website
- Easy sorting mode: manage a huge number of images won't be a problem anymore. Using the "easy-sorting mode" the gallery builder will become compact, allowing you to sort everything seamlessly.
Unlimited responsive galleriesChoose if display your images with a classic gallery layout, a masonry one or with the new PhothoString one (see layout examples here).
Sort images, set the author, description and title. Finally, set the thumbnail center to display images always correctly. With Global Gallery you can make everything in few seconds!
Choose the images sourceWhy using only wordpress images? Global Gallery is ready to catch images from:
- Your Wordpress library
- Wordpress category posts
- Global Gallery albums (created via FTP)
- Flickr sets
- Instagram accounts
- Pinterest boards (latest 25 images)
- Facebook pages
- Google+ albums
- 500px users
See some galleries made with different sources images here
Automatic gallery creationDon't want to lose time selecting images one by one? Global Gallery allows you to create a gallery only with a click. Images will be added automatically giving you the ability to choose if display titles, authors and descriptions. Set the interval on which the gallery is re-built. Everything is cached speeding up loadings.
Finally, choose if add images randomly and set a maximum images number for the gallery.
Why only one lightbox?Why forcing you to use a specific lightbox? Global Gallery comes with four lightboxes ready to use: Fancybox, ColorBox, PrettyPhoto and the brand new LCweb lightbox! Each one is customizable with ease with specific options! In particular, the LCweb lightbox brings new features as a 100% responsive capability and a fullscreen layout.
It is also mobile optimized and takes advantage of the touchswipe technologies to provide a great experience to any user!
Watermarking systemProtect your images disabling the right click and moreover with the Global Gallery watermark system.
Just choose wich image use, the opacity and the position.
You can choose if use watermarked images or not simply switching an option in the shortcode builder. Take advantage of the caching system to speed up the galleries loading.
Take a look to a watermark demo here.
1 Click fast setup, thumbnail effects and much moreare not familiar with web sizes, margins or colours?
No problem, you can apply 6 predefined styles with only one click. Of course once you've choosed a style you can customize it to create unique styles. Global Gallery comes also with two premium effects to apply to your thumbnails: grayscale and blur!
Everything is fully custimizable: set the overlays position and visibility, the thumbnail colours, borders, and much more!
Walkthrough VideosTo make the plugin easy for everyone, the documentation comes with detailed videos explaining each step necessary to setup and use Global Gallery:
- Main Settings
- First gallery creation w/ WP library
- Galleries with: WP categories, Flickr, Instagram
- Galleries with: Pinterest, Facebook, Google+, 500px
- Galleries with Global Gallery albums
- Automatic gallery creation
- Styling galleries
- Manage lightboxes
- Shortcode wizard
- Use a watermark
NotesPlease note that, obviously, the plugin requires a responsive theme to have a responsive behaviour.
The fetchable image number for socials depends on their rules.